Three Earthen Stores in a Single Row
Tamura Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse (田村酒造酒造蔵, Tamura Shuzō Shuzōkura) is a single-storey Dozo-zukuri brewing hall at Tamura Sake Brewery in Fussa City, Tokyo, built around 1822 and extended in 1918 and 1922, and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on December 24, 2013.
It stands in the northwest corner of the brewery grounds, which border the Tamagawa Aqueduct, and is the core building of the whole works. The registration counts it as one building, but it is really three storehouses joined end to end: from the south, the Hongura (main store), the Nakagura (middle store) and the Shingura (new store), each with a gabled roof. At 912 square meters of building area, the Tamura Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse is by far the largest of the brewery's five registered structures.
An Octagonal Brick Chimney and Hooded Windows
South of the Hongura rises a brick chimney, octagonal in plan and bound with iron bands for strength. The registration lists the chimney explicitly, so it is protected as part of the brewing hall rather than as a separate structure.
The walls are finished in white Shikkui plaster above a skirt of horizontal weatherboarding (Shitami-itabari), and small roofs (Hisashi) shelter a regular row of windows. The contrast between the pale upper wall and the dark boarded base gives the long facade a steady rhythm. The roofs are tiled.
Why the Brewing Storehouse Was Registered
The Tamura Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse was registered for contributing to the historic landscape of the country, under registration number 13-0308. The Agency for Cultural Affairs singles it out as a large earthen storehouse that shows clearly how a brewery's storage expanded. The part built around 1822, when the business was new, was lengthened in 1918 and again in 1922, and the stages of that growth remain legible in one continuous building.
Of the brewery's five registrations, this is the only building where an Edo-period core carries Taisho-period additions, so the founding years and the modern expansion sit under one run of roofs.
Seeing the Tamura Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse
Because the Tamura Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse sits at the heart of a working brewery, it is seen on the brewery's booked tour, which takes in the historic buildings and explains the brewing process. The official pages do not say how much of the interior is shown, so it is worth asking when you book.
Outside, start at the south end with the Hongura and its octagonal chimney, then follow the wall north past the Nakagura and Shingura, tracing the line of hooded windows as it runs along the building.
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Q&A
- When was the Tamura Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse built?
- Around 1822, with extensions added in 1918 and 1922.
- What does the Tamura Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse consist of?
- Three gabled earthen storehouses joined in a row, the Hongura, Nakagura and Shingura from south to north, forming a single-storey hall of 912 square meters.
- What is special about the chimney at the Tamura Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse?
- It is a brick chimney with an octagonal plan, reinforced with iron bands, standing just south of the Hongura. It is included in the registration.
- Why is the Tamura Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- It was registered for contributing to the historic landscape, as a large earthen storehouse that shows how the brewery's storage grew in stages.
- Can visitors see the Tamura Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse?
- Yes, on the brewery's booked tour. How much of the interior is shown is not stated officially, so check when booking.
Basic Information
| Name | Tamura Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse (田村酒造酒造蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 626-1 and others, Aza-Naga, Oaza Fussa, Fussa City, Tokyo |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building), registration no. 13-0308 |
| Year Designated | Registered December 24, 2013 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Dozo-zukuri, 1 storey, tiled roof, building area 912 square meters, with chimney |
| Owner | Not listed in the national database (the brewery is Tamura Shuzojo) |
| Public Access | Seen on the booked brewery tour |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Tamura Shuzo Shuzokura (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00009723
- Cultural Heritage Online: Tamura Shuzo Shuzokura (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/259872
- Fussa City Local History Museum: Tamura Shuzo Shuzokura (Japanese)
- https://www.museum.fussa.tokyo.jp/archives/fc_cultural/536
- Tamura Shuzojo: Brewery Tour Reservations (Japanese)
- https://www.tamurashuzojo.com/page/tour
Last verified: 2026.09.30
